Shloka 50

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

ततः सिंहो बभूवाशु मायावी तच्छिरोम्बिका । यावद्भिनत्ति तावत्स खङ्गपाणिर्बभूव ह

Transliteration

tataḥ siṃho babhūvāśu māyāvī tacchirombikā | yāvadbhinatti tāvatsa khaṅgapāṇirbabhūva ha

Translation

Then, by the power of māyā, he instantly became a lion, and Ambikā struck at its head. Yet as long as she kept shattering it, he—sword in hand—continued to manifest anew.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तर-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• सिंहः: a lion
• सिंहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परोक्षभूत (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: शीघ्रार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• मायावी: illusory/magical
• मायावी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मायाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अम्बिका: Ambikā (the Goddess)
• अम्बिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-अव्यय (as long as)

• भिनत्ति: splits/breaks
• भिनत्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्/वर्तमाने (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• तावत्: so long/then
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: तावदर्थक-अव्यय (so long/just then)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• खङ्गपाणिः: sword-in-hand (one)
• खङ्गपाणिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खङ्ग + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (खङ्गः पाणौ यस्य/खङ्गपाणि), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परोक्षभूत (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: पादपूरण/निपात (expletive particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Ambika

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights māyā as a power that multiplies appearances; spiritual victory comes from steadfast divine discernment (śakti) that is not exhausted by changing forms.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It supports Saguna devotion by showing how divine power acts within form to subdue illusion; Linga-worship trains the mind to see the Formless Pati (Shiva) as the ground beyond shifting appearances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady attention, using bhasma and rudrākṣa as aids to remain unwavering when the mind produces illusory fear-forms.